Portret van Casimir Le Conte

About this artwork

verzamelaarsmerk, verso linksonder, gestempeld: Stempel J. Fred Bianchi; tekst J. Fred. B. in rechtshoekig kader in blauwe inkt

Art Historical Context

Charles Meryon’s *Portret van Casimir Le Conte*1856) is a striking etching that showcases the artist’s mastery during the mid-19th-century revival of printmaking in France. Meryon, a pioneering Romantic etcher often celebrated for his haunting views of Paris, turned his meticulous hand to portraiture here, capturing the likeness of Casimir Le Conte remarkable precision. Created at the height of Haussmann’s urban transformations in Paris, this work reflects the era’s fascination with individuality and detailed observation, bridging intimate portraiture with the technical innovation of etching. ...

About the Artist

Charles Meryon · 1821–1868

Charles Meryon, born on November 23, 1821, in Paris, was the illegitimate son of English physician Dr. Charles Lewis Meryon and dancer Pierre-Narcisse Chaspoux (stage name Narcisse Gentil) at the Paris Opéra. His half-sister Fanny, from his mother's prior relationship with Viscount Lowther, remained in contact after their mother's death in 1838. Raised partly outside Paris before attending Pension...